The 2016 Albany Dutchmen season was one for the record books, literally, as multiple records were altered in the most successful season in Dutchmen history. Former players also saw success in the 2016 MLB Draft and at the College World Series.
The Dutchmen finished the 2016 season with the most regular season wins in team history with 28, posting a 28-20 record in the regular season. En route to Game 3 of the East Division Finals, the deepest playoff run in organization history, the team started with six wins in the first eight games and finished the regular season with wins in seven of the last eight games, and eight of the final ten. The Dutchmen also took victories in their final five games at home, taking the last three by way of the walkoff.
The Dutchmen hosted the 2016 PGCBL All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, scout day, and it’s festivities for the first time in team history, that saw a record crowd of 1,482 come out to see the league’s best, including six Dutchmen: JJ Shimko (University of South Carolina Upstate), Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican), Evan Giles (Indiana State), Troy Montemayor (Baylor), Jeff Rivera (U. of the Cumberlands), and Malcolm Nachmanoff (Stony Brook).
Off the field, seven former Dutchmen realized their dreams of playing professional baseball, including four former Dutchmen hearing their names called in the 2016 MLB Draft and three others who signed professional contracts:
Zach Remillard (‘12, ‘14, ‘15- Coastal Carolina University); 10th Round, Chicago White Sox (highest a Dutchmen player has ever been drafted)
Mike Kaelin (‘14- University at Buffalo); 15th Round, Los Angeles Angels
Jon Reid (‘15- Azusa Pacific University); 28th Round, Washington Nationals
Tyler Orris (‘13- Millersville University); 33rd Round, Colorado Rockies
Anthony Marks (‘13- Coastal Carolina University) signed with San Francisco Giants
Jack Wietlispach (‘12, ‘13- Robert Morris University) signed with Joplin Blasters
Jake Welch (‘14- Notre Dame College) signed with Birmingham Bloomfield Beavers
Remillard and Marks led the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers in winning the 2016 NCAA DI Baseball Championship, as the Chant catalysts were named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team. The Chanticleers made an improbable run to the National Championship, going down to their last strike multiple times throughout the Tournament, before getting to the Championship series and defeating the University of Arizona Wildcats to take home the hardware.
On the current Dutchmen side of things, JJ Shimko (University of South Carolina Upstate) had one of the best years in Dutchmen history. The co-Player of the Year set franchise records in at-bats (168), hits (57), and stolen bases (28). Shimko’s record in hits in his record number of at-bats gave him the fourth best average (.339) in the history of the Dutchmen, and gave him 72 total bases, 3rd best in Albany history. He hit 11 doubles, tied for fourth in the record books. Shimko also took 21 walks to go with 11 hit by pitches, and those combined gave him a .443 on-base percentage, the second best in Albany history. Shimko took advantage of his on-base opportunities to score, registering 31 runs, tying a pair of Dutchmen players for second place in the record books.
The other co-Player of the Year, Justin Childers (Ohio Dominican) had a phenomenal year for the 2016 Dutchmen, as he put his name in three categories in the Dutchmen record books. The utility man tied second in at-bats (165) and runs batted in (31), and had the third most hits in Dutchmen archives with 57.
Rounding out the rewrite of the offensive records, a pair of players etched their names towards the top of the walk record in Dutchmen history. Jon Skidmore (Dallas Baptist University) walked 27 times to put him in third ever and Cole Malloy (Butler University) took 24 walks to tie him for fifth place in Dutchmen history.
On the pitching side, Evan Giles (Indiana State University) had an incredible year, as the Dutchmen Pitcher of the Year put up a 1.50 ERA to put him in third in Dutchmen history. The Sycamore product also struck out 37 in his 42 innings of work, tallying a 1.14 WHIP and an incredible .200 BAA.
Dylan D’Anna (Siena College) had a superb year also, as he tied the Dutchmen record for wins in a season with five. He also posted a 2.43 ERA, and allowed 43 hits in his 37 innings with 28 strikeouts.
In the bullpen, Troy Montemayor (Baylor University) had arguably the best season for a relief pitcher in Dutchmen history. The Baylor Bear had the second most saves in a season with seven, posting a miniscule 0.52 ERA, with a .219 BAA and an astounding .094 WHIP while striking out 25 batters in only 17 innings.
Jeff Rivera (University of the Cumberlands) also had an incredible year, as he tied for the third most saves in Albany history with six and had a .190 BAA, placing him fifth in the Dutchmen record book. The Puerto Rico native also had a 1.58 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.
The Dutchmen are thrilled with this year’s accomplishments and are excited to see what 2017 will hold for the team.
